Disruptive innovation is being prioritized by the European Union and other important NATO allies in an effort to strengthen their economies and defence industries through rigorous multi-domain operations training.
Disruptive innovation has been shown to fundamentally alters operability and has a big impact on how the armed forces function1. Robotics, quantum computing, the Defence Internet of Things, autonomous defence, big data analytics, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, future advanced nanotech materials, additive manufacturing, and next-generation sequencing are just a few of the disruptive technologies that have inspired innovations in the defence industry.
War is unpredictable and always changing. Therefore, dividing up future conflicts into conventional and unconventional or asymmetric warfare conflicts, which may involve hybrid warfare elements, proxy conflicts, the use of cyber capabilities and strategic attacks aimed at infrastructure destruction in sectors that place a high value on data integrity, like financial services and high-profile political institutions like the EU institutions, could be challenging.
Actors engaged in conflict are likely to switch between the physical (land, air, sea, and space) and virtual (cyberspace) spheres in order to take advantage of situations where they have an advantage or superior skills3.
Armed conflicts that are decided by military might have given way to asymmetric warfare, which is won via cunning and sophisticated technical development. States are vulnerable as a result of the evolving complexity of wars since the military tactics used are intended to destroy social and political cohesion rather than end in a military victory.
The present conflict between Russia and Ukraine is an example of how states still maintain and actively use tanks, mechanized weapons, and fighter planes, making traditional armed conflicts a concern. Another illustration is that the main issue for US national security is the military danger that China and Russia represent in the form of inter-state strategic rivalry.
